🏍️ Day 7 – Legendary Riffs, Hairpin Rides & One Last Guinness 🎸🏞️🍺
Date: May 8th 2025
My final full day on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way was unforgettable. It was a memorable conclusion. She didn’t disappoint. After yet more air in the rear tyre! This was a tour de force through Donegal’s dramatic coastline, winding passes, and cultural gems. Day 6 felt like a postcard. In contrast, Day 7 was a full-blown album cover. It wasn’t just because it started with a nod to a rock legend.
🎸 Stop one: the Rory Gallagher Monument in Ballyshannon — birthplace of the Irish guitar icon. A must for any music lover (especially one on two wheels). I stood there imagining blues riffs echoing through the streets. Felt right.
Then it was off again, heading west and zigzagging toward the coast along the Wild Atlantic Way. I made a brief detour to Mountcharles Pier. Fishing boats bobbed gently in the bay. Then I made a quirky photo stop at The Little Cells monument. The monument is a reminder of the monks who once lived in stone huts as tough as the terrain.
🗺️ The road called, and I answered — with some of the best riding of the whole trip:
- Malin Beg – raw, rugged coastline, battered by the Atlantic
- Glencolmcille Folk Village – a step back in time among thatched cottages and turf fires
- Glengesh Pass – ohhh yes. Tight corners, long drops, and views to make your visor fog up from sheer awe. This one’s made for motorcycles along the Wild Atlantic Way. Just you, the road, and the wind. Heaven. 🌀💚
- A final swing up to Bloody Foreland Viewpoint — fittingly, my most northern point on this trip.
As the afternoon shadows grew longer, I reluctantly pointed the bike southeast. I rode the N56 and N15 through valleys and sleepy villages. There was a definite end-of-tour feeling hanging in the air. It was that bittersweet blend of satisfaction and reluctance. This was reminiscent of every adventure along the Wild Atlantic Way.
I landed at my final campsite near Carrick-on-Shannon. I tucked the bike in for the night. Then, I wandered up to the onsite pub for my farewell feast. 🍽️ I enjoyed a hearty dinner. I savored a couple of perfectly poured Guinness. It was a moment to reflect on 7 unforgettable days in the saddle.
🏕️ Camp was set up in record time — no faffing — just the rhythm of routine. Tomorrow, it’s the road home. But tonight, I raised my glass to Donegal. I toasted the Wild Atlantic and every mile in between on the Wild Atlantic Way.